A Pizookie is not just your average, ordinary, everyday dessert, it is an experience.

The first time I heard about the Pizookie (pronounced pa zoo key), was from my dear friend Tiffany. She talked about it as if was some kind of forbidden love affair

I felt so honored when, one day she brought me a batch of her famous Pizookie cookie dough. And, Ohhh, let me tell you sista (or brotha), It was beyond delicious.

I have since learned that a Pizookie can be just about any cookie dough, spread over nearly an entire surface, forming a large, beautiful circle (don’t laugh, to me cookie dough is beautiful). Feel free to use whatever baking surface you can get your hands on. Perhaps a pizza stone, baking pan, cookie sheet, pie tin, or even tin foil (if you must). Once baked, it is served piping hot with vanilla ice cream on top. No scooping into individual portions, it is what it is…One big cookie, and as many spoons as there are people.

Now keep in mind that, a Pizookie is not meant to be enjoyed alone. Sharing your freshly baked Pizookie is a special experience. Trust me, it tastes best when it’s shared with those you love (or want to love). You may be tempted to eat the whole darn thing by yourself, and…. you may even have the ability to do so. However, sharing your Pizookie is essential in order to complete the fun, family & friendship experience that comes with your monster of a cookie.

Life , love, & friendship does not get any sweeter than this!

Bon Appetite

Micki’s Healthier, Yummy, & Fun Pizookie

This dessert recipe is made using heart happy olive oil in the place of butter. Whole wheat pastry flour and oats replace the white flour usually found in a treat like this…Although made healthy, I believe you will agree that this Pizookie is as delicious as it is fun to eat!

A Few Useless And Not So Useless Facts About Olive Oil
just in case you were wondering…

• Olive oil is medically proven to be good for your heart and good for your overall health.
• Olive oil aids in lowering your LDL cholesterol (mine has dropped 100 points since making the switch to olive oil)
• Olive oil is not a genetically modified food!
• Olive oil is great for lactose intolerant people.
• Olive oil does not contain trans fatty acids (bad for you).
• Olive oil is not hydrogenated (bad for you).
• Olive oil can be kept in your food storage.
• Olive oil can be stored in your refrigerator.
• Olive oil can be frozen.
• Olive oil is technically a fruit juice.
• Olive oil is pressed and not chemically extracted.
• Olive oil is a great massage oil.
• Olive oil was called “the great therapeutic” by Hippocrates.
• Olive oil is produced by over 450 companies in California and Texas.
• Olive oil is high in healthy monounsaturated fats (good for you).
• Olive oil tastes great in traditional desserts (come see for yourself).
• Olive oil makes your heart and tummy smile.
• Olive Oil Desserts have 1/3 less fat and calories.
• Olive Oyl was Popeye’s girlfriend.
• Olive oil has so many beneficial uses, I will need to continue this list on another post!!!

Real Live Cookbook, Checking The Oil , Appearances, & Easy Pie Crust-Fit For A Pastry Chef!Okay, okay….of course there is a little bit of shameless self promotion here…The cookbooks are in the warehouse and ready to ship. They can also be ordered into your local Barnes and Noble, where you can save the big bucks on shipping costs. Amazon.com has cookbooks in stock as well. And last but not least, there is always my humble… little old …website www.oliveoildesserts.com

Don’t you think it’s time to toss out all of the unhealthy trans fats and hydrogenated oil (butter, margarine, shortening, and, perish the thought, lard), and begin cooking and baking healthier today?

Your heart will say thanks, and your tummy will smile!!!

Send Me Your Cooking Stories

As a fun contest, I am giving away a free cookbook to the person who can send me the funniest cooking story. The disaster stories are especially funny!!! Are ya game?? Invite a friend to my blog to share a story too….

Checking The Oil

I am on a mission to find the most delicious, nutritious, & super amazing olive oil to bake my desserts with. Who wouldn’t be excited about all of the beautiful blends which have come in so far from several of California’s finest olive growers? Cowabunga Dude, I can’t wait to start testing!!!

Stay posted for reviews…

Check out this video and learn more about making the perfect olive oil!

Utah’s 2009 Spring Home & Garden Show was better than ever. My son Mike, and my borrowed daughter, Cassidy were fantastic at assisting during the show. Thanks to everyone who attended. And, in case you are wondering,…. the recipes I demonstrated at the Chef’s stage, can be found in my categories section. all except……

Easy Pie Crust-Fit For A Pastry Chef!

Below is the now famous, Perfect Olive Oil Pie Crust recipe. Even Chef Bryan, who is a trained pastry chef; and the host of Fresh From The Kitchen, was surprised when he tasted it. I believe his exact words were ,” I think that this is the most amazing pie crust I have ever tasted”. But don’t take his (or my) word for it, try it out for yourself, and see how very easy it is to prepare. Use your favorite pie filling or try mine. either way, if you were not a pie person in the past, you just might become one now…(in my humble opinion).

Upcoming Appearances

If you live in Utah or Idaho, catch me mixing it up with Chef Bryan next Monday, March 30th, on channel 2 (KUTV) at noon. We are making the healthy, yet sometimes evil, Chocolate Sin Cookies!

I will also be chatting about yummy food with Radio Host, Barbara Howard on April 4th at 8:00pm EST. To listen online, click here

Perfect Olive Oil Pie Crust

Ingredients:

2½ cups………flour, sifted

1 tablespoon granulated sugar

1 teaspoon……salt

½ cup………. pure olive oil

2/3 cup………buttermilk

1 teaspoon……pure vanilla extract

EGG WASH

1 medium……..egg white

2 teaspoons…..cold waterPreparation

1 In mixing bowl add flour, sugar, and salt. Mix together.

2 Add olive oil, buttermilk, and vanilla. Using a spatula, blend all ingredients. If necessary, add a sprinkle of flour to create desired texture; not too wet and not too dry.

With heart disease on the rise and unhealthy trans fat making headlines as one of the main culprits, many people are looking for better ways to improve their diet. The challenge is thatmost baked goods contain unhealthy trans fat and hydrogenated oils. For this reason, many peoplefind themselves having to say ”No” to the one food group they love the most – dessert.